An experienced skier lost his life Tuesday afternoon after being caught in a sudden avalanche near the Mont Blanc massif, authorities have confirmed.
The 38-year-old man, identified as Thomas Keller of Innsbruck, Austria, was skiing off-piste with two companions when the avalanche struck around 2:15 p.m. local time. According to the Haute-Savoie mountain rescue unit, Keller was swept more than 300 meters down a steep slope before being buried under several feet of snow.
His companions, both unharmed, immediately contacted emergency services and began search efforts using avalanche transceivers. Keller was located approximately 20 minutes later and airlifted by helicopter to a hospital in Sallanches, where he was pronounced dead on arrival due to trauma and hypothermia.
Keller was an experienced backcountry skier and a certified mountain guide with over 15 years of alpine expertise. Local officials noted that avalanche risk on Tuesday was marked as level 3 on a scale of 5, indicating a “considerable” risk due to recent heavy snowfall and fluctuating temperatures.
“This is a tragic reminder that even the most skilled individuals are not immune to the dangers of the mountain,” said Captain Laurent Durand of the mountain rescue unit.
Authorities are urging all winter sports enthusiasts to check avalanche bulletins, avoid high-risk zones, and carry proper safety equipment when venturing into backcountry areas.
A full investigation into the incident is underway.
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